叔 (shū) — father's younger brother; husband's younger brother; (as a polite title) used for a man about one's father's age
Definition
A kinship and address term for a man of one's father's generation. Within the family it specifically means 'father's younger brother' (husband's younger brother by marriage); used as a polite street title (张叔) for any man roughly one's father's age.
noun
father's younger brotherhusband's younger brother(as a polite title) used for a man about one's father's age
Measure word · 位
Examples
- 叔。Wǒ shū shì yī shēng.My uncle (father's younger brother) is a doctor.
- 叔。Tā shū qù nián jié hūn le.His uncle (husband's younger brother) got married last year.
- 叔,。Zhāng shū, nín màn zǒu.Uncle Zhang, take care.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
- 尗尗shūwooden stake
- 又又yòuhand
The shape has 又 (a hand) and 尗 (a wooden stake), showing a hand putting the stake into the ground.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.